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HISTORIC HULA BOWL SET TO CALL NORTH CAROLINA HOME IN 2018

In Discussions With Potential Venues

November 4, 2016

(Raleigh, NC, November 4, 2016) The Hula Bowl, historically known as one of the nation’s premiere showcases for college athletic talent, announced today its re-entry into the collegiate football post-season by selecting Raleigh, North Carolina as the site where it will celebrate its 72nd anniversary as an independently-administered invitational bowl game. The all-star classic will bring future NFL stars to North Carolina, a hot-bed of collegiate athletics, in January 2018.

“North Carolina is proud to welcome the return of the Hula Bowl,” said The Honorable Pat McCrory, the state’s governor. “Players, coaches and fans will enjoy first-hand the warm Southern hospitality and enthusiasm for college sports that are the hallmarks of our great state.”

Established in 1946 as the Hula Bowl All-Star Football Classic, the Hula Bowl has traditionally been played in Hawaii to showcase the top collegiate players and coaches in a time-honored East vs. West all-star gridiron classic. The bowl fell victim to the Great Recession in 2008 and remained dormant until this year when Hula Bowl organizers began to search for opportunities to reintroduce and reimagine the historic bowl game.

Jennifer Logan, Owner of Hula Bowl, LLC states: “In reintroducing the historic Hula Bowl, an East vs. West classic, we decided to name a new East Coast home for the all-star classic. After an extensive search, we discovered that Raleigh and the Triangle region is the natural choice with storied collegiate traditions and enthusiastic fans—eager to welcome the Hula Bowl to its new East Coast home in January 2018. The city and greater Triangle region feature outstanding amenities for visitors, and Carter-Finley Stadium offers a beautiful venue for the action. In addition, the indoor practice facilities at North Carolina State University offer numerous advantages for an event of this scale.”

Hula Bowl, LLC is in discussions for a final date and final location for the 2018 game.

Following the 2018 North Carolina edition of the Hula Bowl, organizers expect future bowl games to rotate between Hawaii and North Carolina.

“North Carolina is the sixth most visited destination in the United States,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III. “From the mountains to the sea, to the vibrant Triangle area fans will experience – nothing compares to the many treasures people will discover when they visit our beautiful state.”

The Hula Bowl has hosted Heisman Trophy winners and past Hula Bowl MVPs that have gone onto become NFL greats. Once reserved for collegiate seniors only, the 2018 North Carolina Hula Bowl will also extend a limited number of invitations to junior-status players to participate in the game as well as collegiate all-stars from outside the United States to support diversity on the field.

The 2018 North Carolina Hula Bowl week is expected to kick off with National Football League player testing and all-star practice sessions and will include opportunities for fans to meet their favorite players, participate in a fan experience, and enter a punt, pass and kick competition in which the winner receives an all-expense paid trip to the 2019 Hula Bowl to be played in Hawaii.